BAY CITY, MI — At about 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 11, Bay City crews discovered what they believe is the source of Bay County's Water Emergency.

After a three-day search for a broken water main that resulted in millions of gallons of lost water, crews found the problem and are taking the necessary steps to address it.

Here is everything you need to know about the current state of the Bay County Water Emergency:

Did they find the broken water main that caused the water emergency and how?

Officials are extremely confident they have discovered the broken water main after receiving a tip from a nearby property owner.

Where was the break?

The break was found on a property east of Bay City's Wastewater Treatment Plant, 2905 N. Water Street.

What exactly happened?

A 24-inch water main ruptured at the unoccupied property, says Dave Harran, the city's public works director. Water from that main made its way into a 36-inch, abandoned storm drain pipe which discharges into the Saginaw River. Harran says he isn't sure how the water made its way into the storm pipe, adding the pipe wasn't registered in the city's list of infrastructure.

What have crews done to immediately address the problem?

Updated at 5:40 p.m.:Crews immediately started searching for the three valves that control that ruptured water main. As of 3 p.m., all three valves had been shut off. Officials should start seeing reserve tanks at the water plant being replenished.

What happens next in terms of fixing the problem?

Once the valves are turned off, the problem is isolated, said Harran, allowing crews to find the exact location of the rupture and then repair it. Depending on what they find, Harran said, it could be a quick fix, or something more complicated.

Are we still under a water emergency?

Yes. Until city crews confirm water is filling up again in the reserve tanks, residents and businesses are being asked to still conserve water.

Did officials see a decrease in water usage today, as they asked residents and businesses to do?

Yes. Bay City Manager Rick Finn said there was excellent cooperation of city and county residents and businesses, and officials saw that water demand was considerably down. "We feel that many people heard and fully complied and we appreciate that."

How many gallons of water were lost?

City officials are estimating nearly 20 million gallons of water was lost over the three-day period.

Since crews are shutting off three valves for this water main, might we see other secondary water main breaks in the city?

That could happen. There was a secondary water main that broke on Sunday, Aug. 10, as a result of turning on and off water valves. "It's like a hammer when the water comes roaring back through those mains," said Terry Kilburn, the city's water and sewer manager.

Is this going to open the door for a debate about our city's aging infrastructure?

Bay City Commissioner Jim Irving, 5th Ward, said he hopes the attention of the water emergency catches the eyes of politicians in Lansing and Washington. "This is an ongoing problem in this country and especially in older cities like Bay City," Irving said. "This might not be the first time or the last time this happens and it's time we address it."